Qatar updates capital market rules with new offering, listing and M&A rules to encourage foreign investment
Qatar introduced a complete overhaul of its capital market regulations with the issuance of the QFMA Board’s decision (8) of 2025, covering new offerings and listings and the consolidation of regulations.
The reforms aim to simplify listings, strengthen governance and support a country-wide drive to attract foreign investment.
The Governor of the Qatar Central Bank and the Chairman of the Qatar Financial Markets Authodoud Bin Sahadin Bin Savid All-Thatis the ongoing application that guides the Qatari capital market that guides the best practices and international standards.
Financial regulations of Qatar
His Excellency said the regulations support the QFMA’s commitment to international development, simplifying the listing procedures for issuers and strengthening the overall framework that governs Qatar’s capital markets.
He added that the new laws will help to address the challenges facing the sector, support economic development and diversification, and further capital markets in developed markets, especially in the markets that have just been created in the Qatari market.
The provision and listing, as well as the integration of laws and the acquisition of laws are part of the third financial strategy of financial systems and aims to improve the attractiveness of Qatar’s markets for local and international investors.
Sheikh Bandar noted that the rules include all existing rules governing the listing and trading of companies that are listed or want to scratch the market with QFMA licenses.
They include new provisions to simplify the companies of listed companies, protect the rights of investors, ensure the integrity of purchases and compliance with international standards.
Public consultation
QFMA CEO Dr. Tamy Bin Ahmad Al Bilinali said the regulations were subject to public consultation in April last year, where all market participants were invited to review the draft and share feedback.
He emphasized the commitment of the QFMA in consultation with the public and relevant bodies, noting that the cooperation and support from all the institutions under the control of the QFMA is essential in achieving the goals of legal development.
Dr. Al Bilinali said the new rules are the result of more than two years of joint work between the financial regulators and they returned the previous contribution and list of securities in the Board’s Note Book. 4 of 2020.
He pointed out that these laws apply to companies and the conditions listed in the stock exchange, their acquisition and merger, companies that wish to offer a list, investors and providing advisors.
Qatar’s new laws
Among the most important amendments is a new unified structure that includes all the rules related to donations and lists, including issues of rights, currency units, book structure and sharing Bubbacks.
The rules also introduce a dedicated chapter on acquisitions and mergers.
For Donations and Subscriptions, the book building process has been updated to require a single donation and Advisor list rather than multiple separate roles.
For listings, a new method has been added to find the reference price for a listed auction before direct listing. For sukuk and bonds, issuers must now appoint a trustee to protect the rights of investors.
Changes to the secondary market include a requirement of two years before requesting a transfer to the main market and the obligation of companies to prepare an annual governance report.
Financial Transparency
In terms of disclosure and transparency, companies must disclose in both Arabic and English regulations, follow internationally recognized regulations to reverse disclosure and maintain insider lists while preventing insider trading during the embargo.
For founders and major shareholders, the rules allow sales of up to 30 percent in the first year in cases of direct listing on the secondary market.
For acquisitions and mergers, the rules apply directly to listed companies, regulate the methods of recovery and introduce the need for a mandatory offer of 90 percent, without the need for minimum approval. Reits are now allowed to borrow up to 50 percent of the total asset value.
Qatari Markets
Under article 2, all parties to which the rules apply must comply with him within one year from the official Gazette, the Chairman authorized to extend the period.
These rules were developed based on the Benchmark study of the same rules in the international financial markets in the existing markets for the issuance, offering, and conversion of companies for companies with shares that want to be listed on the Qatari markets.
